Rail-joint.



J. D. McCALLQ RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1915- 1,146,634. I Patented July 13, 1915.-

nvmv r09 7d WwJID. 716% By MMWHQ A TTOR/VEYS the tongues 14 and 15 respectively. The ends of the base flanges 7 of the ra l-are cut square as at 18.

In assembling the device, the rail ends are put together in a manner indicated 1n Fig.

- 1, in such position thatthejtongues 14 and .15 of one" rail end project into therabbets 8 and respectively of the adjacent rail ends. When infinally assembled position, the beveled ends 16 of the tongues engage and abut against the beveled surfaces 13 of shoulders 12. At the'same' time the lower and inner faces of 'the' tongues '14 rest against the floors and inner faces respection of a rectangular pin or bolt 19. The

latter is preferably headed at one end as at 20, and at its opposite end is rounded and screw threaded as at 21. The bolt 19 is not designed 'to prevent relative lateral shifting movement of the rail ends, since this is prevented by the interlocking engagement to all intents and purposes lie againsteach' of the tongues provided on the adjacent rail ends. However, the bolt is designed to prevent, or at least to limit, the longitudinal movement bf the rail ends relatively to each other. By engaging as it does the channelsin the tongues of the rail ends, relative longitudinal shifting movement is effectually prevented. 1

It will be noted that the tongues provided on each rail end are not connected by any web portion, the rail ends being so machined that the adjacent corner edges of the tongues other, although it will of course be understood that some slight space must necessarily be left between them, in order that the tongues on thetwo adjacent rail ends" may be moved into interlocking position. However, the fit between the tongues is extremely accurate, so that no inconvenience is experienced from this condition.

By having theinterlocking faces of the tongues and shoulders beveled, a continuous surface for the passage of the wheels of spreading.

the rolling stock is provided, no shocks or unevenness incident to the passage of rolling stock over' the rail ends'of ordinary construction, being experienced. Furthermore, the inter-locking engagement between the ends of the tongues and the inner ends of the rabbets or recesses ellectually prevents any tendency which the tongues might have for By having each end of all the rails thus constructed in the same manner, an economy,

in the manufacture of the rails will be obtamed, for reasons heretofore set out. Furplanesin which the beveled surfaces of the thermore, the strain incident to the contraction and expansion of the parts, due to atmospheric changes, and the strain arising from the passage of rolling stock 0V61"th8" ""1 joints, will be equally distributed, so that each of the tongues will bear its proportionate share.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my ,invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts thereof, as do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

It will be understood that the method I have provided of connecting rail ends is not limited to that use alone, but may be employed Wherever found practical and desirable in construction Work.

I claim 1. A rail having its web thickened at each end, said thickened web being provided with diagonally exposed longitudinally, extending rabbets, each being ofa width and de th subs antially equal to one-half the with and eight of the rail at its ends, a shoulder formed at'the inner end of each recess and 7 being provided with a beveled surface, the

shoulders on opposite sides of the central longitudinal line of the rail he being disposed substantially at right angles to each other, tongues formed on the rail ends in opposed relation to the rabbets, and being each of a width and thickness substantially equal to one-half-the width and height re spectively of the rail ends, said tongues .at their outer ends being beveled,-the planes in which the outer tongue ends on opposite sides of the rail lie being disposed substantially at right angles to each other and at right angles to the planes in which the beveled surfaces of the shoulders on analogous sides of the rail lie, said rail being provided substantially midway between the ends of 1 the rabbets and midway the height ofthe rail with a laterally'extending opening defining channels in the upper and lowe1"sur-'.;

faces respectively of the opposed tongues, and a bolt adapted to be extended through the registering openings in opposite rail ends when the latter are engaged together, substantially as described.

. 2. ,A rail joint comprising a pair of interlocking rail ends, each rail end being provided with a thickened web portion having diagonally opposed longitudinally extend.-- ing rabbets therein, said rabbets each being of a depth and width substantially equal to j I one-half the height and thickness rcspectively of the rail ends, tongues defined at the rail'ends in opposed position relatively to the rabbets,e'aeh of said tongues being 'substantially equal in height and width to one-half the height andwidth rcs a-i-tively w of the rail ends, the outer ends of .the

tongues of each rail end and the inner ends of the rabbets of the opposite rail end be- 3.-- A rail joint comprising a pair of interlocking rail ends, each rail end being providedwith' diagonally opposed rabbets of a depth and Width substantially equal to onehelf the height and Width respectively of the rail ends, diagonally opposed tongues defined at the rail ends and being each of a height and Width substantially equal to onehalf the height and. width of the rail ends,

said .I'ail ends being provided substantially midway thelength of the rabbets and midway the height of the rail with a laterally extending opening defining channels in the upper and lower surfaces respectively of the opposed tongues.-

4. A rail joint comprising a-pair of interlocking rail ends,each rail end being provided with diagonally opposed rabbets of a depth and width substantially equal to onehalf the height and Width respectively of the rail ends, diagonally opposed tongues half the-height and Width of the rail ends,

said rail ends. being provided substantially midway the length of therabbets' and mid Way the height of the rail with a laterally extending opening defining channels in the upper and lower surfaces respectively of the opposed tongues, and means adapted to beextended through the registering openings in the rail ends for preventing relative longitudinal shifting of those ends;

' J MES D.- MoCALL. Witnesses:

' W. H. LANG,

WARREN E. (3001:.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G."

\ defined at the rail endsand being each of a height and width substantially equal to -one- 

